REVIEW
CUMBERLAND
HEATHFIELD, ASPATRIA
SATURDAY 10 MAY 2003

by Chris Simpson

Going.  Good (Soft patches in the back straight) 

Racegoers at the Cumberland Point to Point races at Aspatria on Saturday enjoyed a bright and breezy afternoon and some fine racing. 

It was a particularly good afternoon for John and Elizabeth Brockbank who saw their yellow and black colours carried to victory on three occasions by Icelandic Spring, Dr Deductible and Distracting. 

For most of the final circuit of the opening race there were only 2 runners.  However they still produced an exciting finish. Icelandic Spring was the first to come under pressure from Luke Morgan but he kept responding and eventually beat Solway Plain by 3 lengths. 

Kevin Anderson rode a fine race on the favourite Underley Park in the open Restricted. Always going well they steadily pulled clear up the home straight for a comfortable victory having been backed from 2/1 to 5/4. 

Pharmistice looked beaten between the last 2 fences having been headed by Legendry Line.  However Nicola Stirling conjured a fine leap out of her mount at the last to regain the advantage, which they held by 11/2 lengths at the line. 

The men’s open race produced another close finish.  It was by Dr Deductible who quickened well on the run in to just get the better of the gallant Supreme Day and win by half a length. 

The confined race produced the closest finish of the day with Gaultier Gale beating Poynder Park by a head.  Poynder Park went clear along the back straight and appeared to have the race in safekeeping.  However Alistair Findlay brought Gaultier Gale from some way back with a well timed challenge which saw him get up in the shadow of the post.

The first Maiden was won by the progressive Highland Brig who gave a fine exhibition of jumping from the front and eventually won by a distance.  He carries the same “green with a white sash” Hamilton colours made famous by Earls Brig some years ago.  Earls Brig started his career in Northern Point to Points and was so good that he went on to run third in the 1985 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The final race of the day was won by Distracting who confirmed the promise shown on his debut at Dalston. Always going well he stayed on well up the home straight to win by 10 lengths from More Flair.

Next weeks meeting is at Hexham Racecourse on Sunday 18th May. First race 2.00pm.

Hunt Race

 

 

1st Icelandic Spring

L. Morgan

4/5 Fav.

2nd Solway Plain

D. Jewett

2/1

Only 2 Finished

 

 

Dist. 3 lengths

4 Ran

 

 

Restricted

 

 

1st Underley Park

K. Anderson

5/4 Fav.

2nd Be A Better Boy

J. Walton

4/1

3rd Kelly Canyon

C. Storey

5/1

Dist. 15 lengths & 10 lengths

10 Ran

 

 

Ladies Open

 

 

1st Pharmistice

N. Stirling

6/4 Jt. Fav.

2nd Ledgendry Line

S. Brotherton

6/4 Jt. Fav.

3rd Harden Glen

J. Riding

9/1

Dist. 1.5 lengths & 3 lengths

7 Ran

 

 

Men’s Open

 

 

1st Dr. Deductible

R.Morgan

11/4

2nd Supreme Day

C. Storey

7/1

3rd Tursal

F. Arthur

5/1

Dist.0.5 length &2 lengths

9 Ran

 

 

Confined

 

 

1st Gaultier Gale

A. Findley

9/1

2nd Poynder Park

R. Morgan

7/4 Fav.

3rd Raging Torrent

L. Morgan

4/1

Dist. Hd. & 5 lengths

11 Ran

 

 

Maiden

 

 

1st Highland Brig

R. Morgan

6/1

2nd Rutherford

T. Oates

5/2

3rd Christian Era

L. Kendall

14/1

Dist. Dist & 2 lengths

9 Ran

 

 

Maiden

 

 

1st Distracting

R. Morgan

Evens Fav.

2nd More Flair

J. Walton

4/1

3rd Dino’s Minstral

J. Thompson

8/1

Dist. 10 lengths & 3 lengths

13 Ran